Issue: Indonesians in M’sia send home $2.1b

Jan. 1, online

Indonesian migrant workers sent home a whopping US$6.1 billion (RM18.9 billion) between January and November last year, with $2.1 billion (RM6.5 billion) remitted from Malaysia.

The figures recorded by Bank Indonesia, the central bank, do not include money sent directly by them or via non-bank institutions which were not registered.

Your comments:

When a glass is half-full, it is also half-empty. Indonesian lowly-paid workers are somewhat exploited to help to grow the Malaysian economy. The miniscule rewards the workers get are not free lunch.

They deserve better compensation for their contribution.
Hamid

I wonder if Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank) ever publishes money earned and made in Indonesia transferred back to Malaysia by those Malaysians and companies that work and do business in Indonesia, I bet you it’s a staggeringly higher figure.

I believe Bank Negara Malaysia is under the control of the government and not independent as in Indonesia. Does that tell you something?
Kamal

When it comes to Malaysian medical tourism, Indonesians have been contributing billions of dollars to Malaysia.

According to the 2007 Malaysian Medical Tourism figures, about 72 percent of the foreign patients were Indonesian, 10 percent from Singapore, 5 percent from Japan and 3 percent each from Europe and India.
Roshinda

I think Indonesia should be thankful for the financial benefits that flow from our economically successful neighbor. We should remember that largely one-way cash flow before we rudely criticize and abuse our Malaysian neighbors.

By all means criticize where criticism is justified but abusive language simply denigrates the image of Indonesians. Thank you Malaysia.
Nairdah

Malaysian companies are very lucky to be able to get the supply of cheap labor from Indonesia. Without Indonesian workers, many plantation firms would find it hard
to survive.

What these cheap laborers are getting is actually peanuts compared to the profits the companies employing them are making.
Sheik

All anti-Malaysia Indonesians, think properly before you slam our country. In the future do not be easily manipulated by hidden hands that have their own agenda. We are the ones feeding your family back in Indonesia. Do not bite the hand that feeds you.
Adil